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A Different Type of Memorial Day in the U.S.; Trump Plays Golf Memorial Day Weekend Without Mask; White House Adviser Says Unemployment Could be North of 20 Percent in May; Hong Kong Department Back China's Proposed Security Law; Israeli Prime Minister Remains Defiant During First Day in Court; Golf and NFL Stars Raise $20 Million in Charity Match. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired May 25, 2020 - 04:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:30:00]

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BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The annual observance of the Arlington National Cemetery will be live streamed and closed to the public. Though on Thursday about 1,000 old guard soldiers were allowed to continue the annual tradition of placing small American flags near each head stone, more than 42,000 in all. The cemetery only allowing family members visiting their loved one's gravesites this weekend. And everyone will be required to wear facemasks.

Hoping to avoid big gatherings at monuments across the nation's capital, the national park service also planning to broadcast wreath layings online.

MICHAEL LITTERST, U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: It wasn't a question of are we going to do something or aren't we going to do something, it was a matter of how can we still honor these fallen men and women, while at the same time protecting our visitors and folks who might want to come out.

SANCHEZ: Meantime, the National Memorial Day concert will not have an audience on hand this year. It'll just be a virtual one. While Americans may not be paying their respects in person, this Memorial Day weekend will not go by without Americans in various ways honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Boris Sanchez, CNN, Washington.

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COREN: Meanwhile, President Trump was spotted getting some recreation in while seemingly ignoring the advice of one of the experts on his own coronavirus task force. CNN's Kristin Holmes has the details.

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KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Trump spending his Memorial Day weekend similar to hundreds of others Americans across the country, outside and without a mask. President Trump golfing for the first time since early March. And he was seen not really social distancing and not wearing a mask.

But one of his closest advisors and the coordinator of the coronavirus task force, Dr. Deborah Birx, expressed a lot more caution. She said that people should be social distancing and she explained that there is science behind wearing a mask. Take a listen.

DR. DEBORAH BIRX, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE COORDINATOR: We have said to people is there's clear scientific evidence now by all the droplet experiments that happened and that others have done to show that a mask does prevent droplets from reaching others. And out of respect for each other as Americans that care for each other, we need to be wearing masks in public when we cannot social distance. It's really critically important.

HOLMES: And Dr. Birx also raised questions as to whether or not the U.S. was doing enough to test and trace asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus. But I do want to note one thing here. You know, we heard President Trump saying that we're back. He also said that they weren't going to close down the country again no matter what happened. And it's important to note this especially after a weekend like this one where we saw hundreds of people out on beaches, outside, not social distancing and not wearing masks that the decision to close or open the states dependent on cases is done by the governors. So those governors, who some of whom have already really pled with the citizens, the residents of their state for them to wear masks, to be safe. Those are going to be the ones who are going to try to do what's best for their community as we move forward.

Kristin Holmes, CNN, the White House.

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CHURCH: And right now the world's largest economy, the United States, is suffering from massive unemployment. 43 states hit record high numbers for people out of work last month. The national unemployment average is hovering around 15 percent. And that translates to nearly 40 million Americans losing their jobs since mid-March. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, a senior White House advisor painted an even more dire picture to come.

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KEVIN HASSETT, SENIOR ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO U.S. PRESIDENT: My expectation is that since there's still initial claims for unemployment insurance in May, that the unemployment rate will be higher in June than in May but then after that it should start to trend down. So I think we're very, very close to an inflection point in terms of business activity and probably about a month away in terms of employment.

DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: You think up employment is going to be even higher? HASSETT: Yes, it's going to be quite a bit higher. And you know,

there were some technical things that kind of messed up and on an economics lecture we would go into them. But it could be if they fix the numbers and fix the thing that they mischaracterized last time. That you'll end up with a number north of 20 percent.

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CHURCH: Well meanwhile, New Jersey could soon be forced to make major budget cuts unless the federal government comes to the rescue. Governor Phil Murphy estimated that state will have a $10 billion revenue loss which could force him to lay off some frontline workers.

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PHIL MURPHY, AS NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR: We announced a budget on Friday for the next four months and we had to cut or defer over $5 billion of expenditures. And this includes potentially laying off educators, firefighters, police, EMS, health care workers. This is not abstract. This is real. It's not a blue state issue, it's an American issue.

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[04:35:00]

CHURCH: Well so far both the White House and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have resisted calls to provide federal relief for states facing budget shortfalls.

Well protests and crackdown in Hong Kong. Thousands of people defying police and braving tear gas to tell mainland China to keep its hands off of their freedom. CNN reports from Beijing -- that's next.

Plus, the Israeli Prime Minister is defiant as he faces his first day in court. Details on what comes next in his corruption are just ahead.

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CHURCH: Well, right now the world's largest economy, the United States, is suffering from massive unemployment. 43 states hit record high numbers for people out of work last month. So let's bring in CNN's Anna Stewart to break down all the numbers for us. Good to see you, Anna. So White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett predicts unemployment could be north of 20 percent in the month of May. But his colleague Larry Kudlow doesn't think that means people out of work need any additional help. What more are you learning about all of this?

ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Well, those comments from Larry Kudlow frankly will feel somewhat tone deaf to anyone who is currently unemployed or is worried that they could be in the coming weeks and months. Over 38 million people in the U.S. have filed for initial unemployment aid since mid-March. That's nearly 1/4 of the work force, Rosemary. So it just gives you an idea of just how big a problem this is and it won't be going away anytime soon. Sure, some states are reopening. Some people are going back to work.

And you can expect to see a little bit more hiring certainly in the back half of this second quarter. However, when you look at businesses and sectors in different industries, they won't be going back to pre- pandemic norms in terms of revenue for months. But some of them like travel industries potentially even years.

[04:40:00]

That were looking at some slimmed-down operations. We hear each week for more businesses having to file for bankruptcy. Business having to lose jobs and not all of those will be regained. So it is a huge problem. And you've got to also factor in I think with this sort of economic issue of jobs, is the fear of losing your jobs and what that does to people in terms of spending. People spending will reduce and then you see a recession really entrenched and really could be very prolonged -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes, and the worry is some of these companies won't survive but we'll keep a very close eye on all that. Many thanks to you. Anna Stewart, joining us live from London.

Well, Hong Kong police fired teargas and arrested at least 180 protesters in clashes Sunday. Thousands of people marched against a controversial new national security law proposed by China. Multiple Hong Kong government departments are welcoming the mainland's proposal which is a biggest threat to the city's autonomy and civil liberties since the 1997 handover from British control.

China's rubber stamp Parliament, the National People's Congress, is set to vote on the security law later this week. And CNN's Steven Jiang joins me now from Beijing. Good to see you, Steven. So Hong Kong made these numerous arrests Sunday at pro-democracy protests organized in response to China's National People's Congress. Set to pass this controversial measure, these measures that will of course, significantly impact protests like this. So talk to us about the latest and what the ramifications will be?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: Well, Rosemary, from Beijing's perspective, the protests you just showed is exactly why they need to enact this law right now in Hong Kong. Because they say this kind of national security law would provide a basis to restore the rule of law in Hong Kong. That's why nearly 3,000 delegates of the National People's Congress met behind closed doors on Monday morning to deliberate this proposal.

Now it's passage never in doubt because NPC, as you said, is was largely ceremonial. But the reason Beijing has decided and is acting now is because they're losing patience. They're getting increasingly frustrated. 23 years after Hong Kong's sovereignty returned to Beijing, the local authorities still enable to enact the similar piece of law. They tried in 2003 but that was met with huge protests on the streets which is why the Hong Kong government had to shelve it and never -- really have never reintroduced it.

But with the latest protest movement from Hong Kong that really began last year and continue through this year despite a pandemic, the Beijing really leadership as seeing this notion of being reinforced in terms of the urgency and necessity have such a legislation, have such a law in Hong Kong. And they are also increasingly seeing Hong Kong becoming is bastion of anti-China forces not only with the local pro- democracy activists but also with a growing pro-independence movement. Not to mention that rampant interference or involvement of external forces, including the U.S. government, according to the Beijing leadership.

That's why they decided to take hands into -- take the matter into their own hands by bypassing the Hong Kong legislature to enact this law from the central government. There are of course other calculations as well with the U.S. still preoccupied with the pandemic. And they're probably expecting a weaker international push back. And all of this, Rosemary, of course another sign of President Xi Jinping's increasing confidence in dealing with all sorts of matters because he is just, according to many analysts, feels less restrained by international implications for fear of international rebuke -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right, Steven Jiang bringing us the very latest from Beijing. Many thanks to you.

Well, Benjamin Netanyahu is dismissing corruption charges as a political coup against him. On Sunday Mr. Netanyahu became the first sitting Israeli Prime Minister to stand trial. He is facing charges of bribery, fraud, breach of trust in three separate criminal cases. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's rival turned partner Benny Gantz is coming to his defense. Saying, Mr. Netanyahu is innocent until proven guilty.

Well CNN's Oren Liebermann is following the trial and joins me now from Jerusalem. Good to see you, Oren. So Prime Minister Netanyahu calling his corruption trial a political coup. What's the latest on this and where does it go from here?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been fighting this day ever since the investigations were made public more than three years ago. And we saw that continue in the escalating rhetoric against, not only the investigations but also the judicial system, the media and the left wing. Saying this is how they're trying to topple him. Because they haven't been able to beat him at the ballot box. And we saw that as a continuation of the speech with his most loyal ministers standing right beside him, wearing masks of course as he prepared for his first day of trial.

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LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered room 317 and Jerusalem district court marking the start of his criminal trial. He stood defiantly refusing to sit in the defendant's chair until the camera was removed from the courtroom. Inside he told the three-judge panel he understands the charges against him, bribery and fraud and breach of trust but said little else during the hearing. In the state of Israel versus Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister fired his first shot before the hearing began.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Elements in the police and prosecution have aligned with the left-wing press in order to stitch up hallucinatory and false cases against me with the aim of toppling a strong Prime Minister from the right.

LIEBERMANN: The criminal trial is just beginning expecting to take years. But the court of public opinion or at least its rival halves decided long ago.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's not alone and we're grateful about everything that he is doing.

LIEBERMANN: Dueling protests faced off outside. Those demonstrating in support of Netanyahu, those demonstrating against. No matter the outcome, half the country will feel their side lost. Senior members of Netanyahu's Likud party came to the courthouse to support the 70-year- old head of state. They stood behind their leader as he attacked the media and the judicial system.

NETANYAHU (through translator): I hear it from so many citizens telling me, be strong. We don't buy that nonsense. We all understand they stitched up a case against you. Elements in the police, the prosecution, the media are trying to commit a government coup against the will of the people.

LIEBERMANN: Right before the hearing Netanyahu held his new government's first cabinet meeting where he spoke about coronavirus and the budget, showing its business as usual. His coalition partner and former rival who swore never to serve under an indicted politician, didn't mention the court proceedings either. This is the country's new normal -- a Prime Minister on trial.

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LIEBERMANN: As for what actually happened in court, the answer is not all that much. The first day of trial in Israel is largely procedural or technical where the lawyers go back and forth about hearings and scheduling and what evidence will remain confidential and what will be not confidential. In fact, the only thing Netanyahu had to say was that he understands the charges against him. At this stage he doesn't yet have to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. That comes perhaps way down the road. In that sense this is just the beginning of what could be a very, very long trial -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right, Oren Liebermann joining us live from Jerusalem. Many thanks.

Sports fans have been eager for live competition to return, and now a few of the all-time greats have teamed up and teed off to raise money for pandemic relief efforts. We'll have the highlights next.

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CHURCH: An earthquake hit New Zealand while the Prime Minister was live on television. But Jacinda Ardern managed to keep her cool.

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JACINDA ARDERN, NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER: The last thing we need is another -- we're just feeling a bit of an earthquake here, right? Quite a decent shake here. But if you see things moving behind me, the beehive moves a little bit more than most.

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CHURCH: OK, just about the coolest leader in the world. Right. And the Prime Minister was outlining plans to move New Zealand to level one by June 22 with no restrictions on gathering and all schools and workplaces open. There you go.

Well to golf legends and NFL quarterbacks have raised over $20 million for coronavirus relief efforts Sunday. Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning defeated Phil Michelson and Tom Brady in the Champions for Charity golf match. WORLD SPORT Patrick Snell has the highlights.

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PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT (voice-over): It may have been wet and rainy, no caddies, no spectators, golf as we know it now. Instead though, four global superstars who simply refuse to have their spirits dampened. There were cart cams, old rivals reacquainted, all miked up, and most definitely not holding back.

TIGER WOODS, 15-TIME MAJOR WINNER: I had the coffee. I've got to activate the calves and I got to step on one here. Come on, baby.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Man does have some calves.

WOODS: Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is what I have to listen to every time we play.

SNELL: There were also enticing challenges from the commentary booth at the event presented by Turners Sports, a division of CNN's parent company Warner Media. The match champions for charity and all in support of COVID-19 relief. NBA legend Charles Barkley.

CHARLES BARKLEY, NBA legend: You know what, Tom, because you're my man, $50,000 if you hit the green.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chuck, you saved yourself $50,000.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, Tom, that was -- I should have just said if you could just keep it on the planet.

SNELL: On that occasion, Brady playing with Phil Mickelson was well off the green. Meantime, his longtime NFL rival, the now retired Peyton Manning was partnering with Tiger Woods. Manning gleefully draining a 25-footer much to the Master's Champions' delight, as Woods shared some personal insights after further back issues earlier in the year.

WOODS: It's been nice to be at home and train each and every day and get some treatment on it. Get into a routine basically. You know, I didn't have to play for a while, trying to peak for Augusta and trying to get ready for that. And, you know, obviously with this pandemic and everything that's happened we've all been, you know, very careful and I've had to stay at home. And it's been good in that regard and I've been able to spend a lot of time with my kids which has been awesome.

SNELL: What followed at seven though was quite extraordinary. Brady a 6-time Super Bowl champion, he and Mickelson's three down at this point. But the legendary quarterback with the perfect response, holing out from the fairway after some apparent ribbing from that man Barkley.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.

[04:55:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, T, hey, hey, man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chuck, Chuck, shut your mouth, Chuck.

SNELL: That shot alone earning an extra $100,000 courtesy of a donation from four-time major champion Brooks Koepka, a majestic birdy, but then came somewhat a humbling fall from grace for the Buccaneers superstar.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By the way, did you just add some rain pants or change pants?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I split my pants. There was so much torque in that swing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

SNELL: In the end, this would be a close fought one up victory for Woods and Manning. Live sports back will be a debrief temporary distraction from the devastating global pandemic.

(on camera): Well, there's plenty of fun and frivolity out there on the court at times but there was also real power and purpose to Sunday in South Florida. And now, four global sporting icons who can say they've played their part in helping to raise $20 million for COVID-19 relief efforts.

Patrick Snell, CNN, Atlanta.

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CHURCH: Great story.

Actor Patrick McConaughey and wife Camila are hitting the road to deliver masks to hospitals in rural Texas. McConaughey is a spokesperson for the Lincoln car manufacture which donated 110,000 masks to the road trip. McConaughey was born in Texas and posted this photo of his truck loaded up with boxes before the couple set off on their journey. Well done.

And thank you so much for your company. Stay safe. I'm Rosemary Church. "EARLY START" is up next. You're watching CNN. Stay with us.

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